Last updated:
Andreas Krawiec told CNN-News18 that the discussions with S Jaishankar reflect India’s determined efforts for peace.
Kravić emphasized India’s role, describing New Delhi as a strong global voice advocating diplomacy and peaceful solutions, even as it stays away from direct mediation. Image:
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday spoke to his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi amid the ongoing conflict in Iran, signaling continued diplomatic engagement despite continuing global divisions. “There were detailed discussions on various aspects of the current situation. We agreed to remain in close touch,” Jaishankar said after the call. The outreach comes just days after the India-led BRICS envoys’ meeting failed to reach a unified position on the Gulf crisis.
The war, which began on February 28 after the assassination of Ali Khamenei in joint US-Israeli strikes, has exposed sharp divisions within the West, especially within NATO. us President donald trump Washington has repeatedly criticized allies for not supporting it militarily or deploying naval forces to secure the Strait of Hormuz.
Against this backdrop, CNN-News18 spoke with Andreas Kravik, Deputy Foreign Minister of Norway, a NATO member, to highlight the lack of a unified response within the alliance, the implications of the emerging rifts and whether they could shape the trajectory of the war. Kravic also took aim at India’s role, calling New Delhi a strong global voice advocating diplomacy and peaceful solutions, even if it stays away from the obvious. arbitration.
Edited excerpts below:
When President Trump was asked whether the White House dinner shootings were linked to the Iran war, he said, “You never know”. But more broadly, is this conflict contributing to growing anti-American sentiment globally? Do you think the conflict is now spreading dangerously beyond the battlefield into societies?
I cannot comment on the specifics of the incident in the US as that is for investigators to decide. But more broadly, such conflicts can have ramifications beyond the battlefield, and that is something we have to be conscious of.
Our position has been consistent from the beginning, we need a diplomatic solution to this conflict. And we strongly condemn any form of anti-Americanism or anti-Semitism, wherever it occurs.
Norway is a member of NATO. And we do not see a unified NATO supporting the United States in this conflict. Is this a sign of deep rifts within the alliance, or is Europe distancing itself from Washington?
Look, NATO has no formal role in this conflict. This is a war that involves the US, Israel and Iran, so the coalition is not directly involved.
“NATO remains a very strong partnership, historically one of the most successful alliances, and our cooperation with the United States continues in many areas,” he said.
Where Europe is stepping in is around securing the Strait of Hormuz. Countries like the UK and France have started initiatives, and we are part of those efforts. Discussions are also underway with the US on how Europe can contribute.
Therefore, while Europe is not involved in the fighting on the ground, it has a clear role in stabilizing the situation, especially in keeping vital trade routes open, which is vital for the global economy.
You stated that “This is not NATO’s war. This is a war between the US and Iran”. But President Trump has repeatedly chided NATO allies for not deploying their navies to help open the Strait of Hormuz. America is also reportedly considering withdrawing from the alliance. There are even reports of a Pentagon email saying that “difficult” countries like Spain could be sidelined from key positions within NATO. So, is this fundamentally possible? And how might this rift affect the future of the alliance?
The NATO alliance remains strong and continues to cooperate on a variety of issues. But on this particular conflict involving Iran, it is natural that there are different views within the coalition.
When you have 32 democracies, some deviations are to be expected. What matters is that the alliance continues to work and find common ground.
In fact, we are seeing positive signs, with defense spending increasing across Europe. For example, Norway is now spending about 3.5% of its GDP on defence.
So yes, there are differences of opinion on this issue, but that’s normal. NATO is not formally part of this conflict, and member states are free to take their own positions.
So, with the Strait of Hormuz closing again, how serious is the risk of a global energy shock, and is Europe preparing for the worst?
We are already seeing the effects, with prices rising, especially in Asia, which was the first to be affected. When I was in India a few weeks ago, a major concern in almost every discussion was how to limit the economic consequences of this conflict. We are having similar conversations across Europe, including Norway.
The global economy is deeply interconnected and supply chains are also deeply interconnected. When an important chokepoint like the Strait of Hormuz is disrupted, it impacts the entire world.
That is why we are pushing for the resumption of peace talks, de-escalation of conflict, reopening of the strait, and avoiding further damage to global development.
Now there was hope for talks in Islamabad, but Washington was out of the second round. So, are diplomatic off-ramps effectively being closed, or are there still any viable channels left?
Only the parties can speak with authority, but from our conversations, including with Pakistan, there seems to be a willingness to restart talks. Both sides have indicated that they do not want a return to full-scale conflict and are open to a diplomatic solution.
That said, there is a lot of mistrust, which is natural in the midst of hostility. That’s why a trusted third party is important. We believe that Pakistan is playing a constructive role, putting forward proposals and trying to identify common ground.
As we have heard, both the US and Iran are comfortable with Pakistan acting as a mediator. So, there is still a way and we hope that this can restart the talks soon.
Talking about Pakistan’s role, we have spoken to Israeli officials who have clearly said that they do not trust Islamabad as a mediator. What is NATO’s assessment on Pakistan’s role?
NATO does not have a formal assessment of Pakistan’s role, but from Norway’s perspective, we are closely engaged with them and the dialogue has been constructive.
Pakistan’s approach matches ours, it focuses on finding common ground and being constructive in diplomacy. As we have heard, both the US and Iran are comfortable with Pakistan acting as a mediator.
Therefore, we view Pakistan as a credible third party and stand ready to support those efforts. The hope is that this can bring both sides back to the table and move toward a diplomatic solution.
Despite its strong ties with both Iran and Israel, India has stayed away from a formal mediation role in the conflict, in line with its multi-alignment strategy. So where does India fit into this crisis? Can New Delhi emerge as a stable power or strategic balancer in the region?
India is a formidable player on the global stage not only politically, but also economically. Its voice carries weight and when it talks about the importance of international law and diplomacy, people listen.
From our perspective, India remains consistent on that front. When I was at Raisina Dialogue 2026, my discussions with the External Affairs Minister and other decision makers were very clear: there is strong support for a peaceful resolution of this conflict.
India often plays this role by supporting international law, multilateralism and the UN Charter. And we hope this will continue.
Coming back to the US narrative, it turns out that it has already weakened Iran significantly. In Europe’s assessment, has Washington really gained the upper hand, or does Iran still retain a strategic advantage?
Let me say upfront, we support the key concerns raised by the United States, particularly ensuring that Iran does not acquire a nuclear weapon and that highly enriched uranium is properly accounted for. We have also expressed concern over the Iranian regime’s treatment of its own people.
But ultimately, these issues require diplomatic solutions. For any outcome to be sustainable it must be anchored in a credible agreement. This is the only way forward.
Also, while Iran has weakened militarily, it still has significant influence, particularly over the Strait of Hormuz. This gives him the ability to influence the direction of this conflict.
This is why we continue to urge both sides to return to the negotiating table. Compromise is possible, but only if there is a willingness to overcome differences and work.
So, what does a realistic end game look like here – a change in regime behavior in Iran, a negotiated settlement, or a long-standing conflict?
Look, Iran cannot be allowed to have nuclear weapons. This is not just Norway’s position, it is a view shared by most of the international community.
At the same time, we must uphold international law and ensure that the use of force is consistent with the UN Charter. We have raised concerns about actions that may not meet that standard.
Ultimately, the only durable solution is negotiations, where Iran receives sanctions relief in exchange for explicit guarantees that it will not pursue nuclear weapons. This should be supported by strong international inspections and a credible plan to deal with highly enriched uranium, either by reducing it or moving it out of Iran.
If dialogue can resolve these issues, there is a way forward. But it is equally important to send a strong message on the regime’s treatment of its own people, which we have condemned in the strongest terms.
Turning to India-Norway relations, Prime Minister Modi is expected to visit Oslo for the India-Nordic summit next month. What key areas of cooperation do you expect to be prioritized, and could we see the relationship expand beyond trade and climate into more strategic coordination?
I believe that India is a powerful player on the global stage with a strong voice on international law and multilateralism. It also has a fast-growing, dynamic economy with a thriving high-tech sector.
There is strong interest within the Norwegian business community to deepen cooperation with Indian partners, and a high-level visit will be a valuable opportunity to pursue this.
We will continue to prioritize India, one of our key partners in the Global South, and we look forward to enhancing engagement at the highest levels.
April 30, 2026, 17:36 IST
read more
